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Movies like Desert Vigilante (1949)

The best movies like Desert Vigilante (1949) are Barquero (1970), A Man Called Sledge (1970) and Dead for a Dollar (2022). If Desert Vigilante hooked you with its western, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Barquero (1970)

    Jake Remy leads a gang of outlaw cutthroats making their escape toward Mexico from a successful robbery. Barring their way is a river--crossable only by means of a ferry barge. The barge operator, Travis, refuses to be bullied into providing transport for the gang and escapes across river with most of the local populace--leaving Remy and his gang behind, desperately seeking a way across. A river-wide stand-off begins between the gang and the townspeople, both groups of which have left people on the wrong side of the river.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  2. A Man Called Sledge (1970)

    James Garner is Luther Sledge, the leader of a pack of rebels who are planning to steal a stash of gold. But after the thieves actually manage to get away with the bounty, they soon discover that the enemy lies within their midst. As they begin to bicker over who should get the biggest cut, the stage is set for a deadly showdown. Claude Akins and John Marley co-star in this Italian Western directed by Vic Morrow.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  3. Dead for a Dollar (2022)

    In 1897, veteran bounty hunter Max Borlund is deep into Mexico where he encounters professional gambler and outlaw Joe Cribbens — a sworn enemy he sent to prison years before. Max is on a mission to find and return Rachel Kidd, the wife of a wealthy businessman, who as the story is told to Max, has been abducted by Buffalo Soldier Elijah Jones. Max is ultimately faced with a showdown to save honor.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

  4. Terror on the Prairie (2022)

    A pioneering family fights back against a gang of vicious outlaws that is terrorizing them on their newly-built farm on the plains of Montana.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  5. Ramrod (1947)

    A cattle-vs.-sheepman feud loses Connie Dickason her fiance, but gains her his ranch, which she determines to run alone in opposition to Frank Ivey, "boss" of the valley, whom her father Ben wanted her to marry. She hires recovering alcoholic Dave Nash as foreman and a crew of Ivey's enemies. Ivey fights back with violence and destruction, but Dave is determined to counter him legally... a feeling not shared by his associates. Connie's boast that, as a woman, she doesn't need guns proves justified, but plenty of gunplay results.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  6. Three Violent People (1956)

    A rancher, his shady bride and his one-armed brother fight amid carpetbaggers in Texas.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  7. Man Without a Star (1955)

    A wandering cowboy gets caught up in a range war.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  8. Jubal (1956)

    Jubal Troop is a cowboy who is found in a weakened condition, without a horse. He is given shelter at Shep Horgan's large ranch, where he quickly makes an enemy in foreman Pinky, a cattleman who accuses Jubal of carrying the smell of sheep.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  9. Old Henry (2021)

    A widowed farmer and his son warily take in a mysterious, injured man with a satchel of cash. When a posse of men claiming to be the law come for the money, the farmer must decide who to trust. Defending a siege of his homestead, the farmer reveals a talent for gun-slinging that surprises everyone calling his true identity into question.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  10. Two Rode Together (1961)

    Two tough westerners bring home a group of settlers who have spent years as Comanche hostages.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  11. The Duel at Silver Creek (1952)

    When a gang of ruthless claim jumpers brutally murders his miner father, a gunman known as the Silver Kid joins forces with the local marshal to free the tiny town of Silver City from the clutches of the dastardly villains.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  12. Monte Walsh (1970)

    Monte Walsh is an aging cowboy facing the ending days of the Wild West era. As barbed wire and railways steadily eliminate the need for the cowboy, Monte and his friends are left with fewer and fewer options. New work opportunities are available to them, but the freedom of the open prarie is what they long for. Eventually, they all must say goodbye to the lives they knew, and try to make a new start.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  13. Run for Cover (1955)

    An ex-convict drifter and his flawed young partner are made sheriff and deputy of a Western town.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  14. Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure (1995)

    A young boy draws on the inspiration of legendary western characters to find the strength to fight an evil land baron in the old west who wants to steal his family's farm and destroy their idyllic community. When Daniel Hackett sees his father Jonas gravely wounded by the villainous Stiles, his first urge is for his family to flee the danger, and give up their life on a farm which Daniel has come to despise anyway. Going alone to a lake to try to decide what to do, he falls asleep on a boat and wakes to find himself in the wild west, in the company of such "tall tale" legends as Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, John Henry and Calamity Jane. Together, they battle the same villains Daniel is facing in his "real" world, ending with a heroic confrontation in which the boy stands up to Stiles and his henchmen, and rallies his neighbors to fight back against land grabbers who want to destroy their town.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  15. Blackthorn (2011)

    In Bolivia, Butch Cassidy (now calling himself James Blackthorn) pines for one last sight of home, an adventure that aligns him with a young robber and makes the duo a target for gangs and lawmen alike.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  16. Boss Nigger (1975)

    Two black bounty hunters ride into a small town out West in pursuit of an outlaw. They discover that the town has no sheriff, and soon take over that position, much against the will of the mostly white townsfolk.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  17. Mackenna's Gold (1969)

    A bandit kidnaps a Marshal who has seen a map showing a gold vein on Indian lands, but other groups are looking for it too, while the Apache try to keep the secret location undisturbed.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  18. The Stalking Moon (1968)

    While moving a group of Apaches to a Native American reservation in Arizona, an American scout named Sam Varner is surprised to find a white woman, Sarah Carver, living with the tribe. When Sam learns that she was taken captive by an Indian named Salvaje ten years ago, he attempts to escort Sarah and her half-Native American son to his home in New Mexico. However, it soon becomes clear that Salvaje is hot on their trail.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

  19. The Man from the Alamo (1953)

    During the war for Texas independence, one man leaves the Alamo before the end (chosen to help others' families) but is too late to accomplish his mission, and is branded a coward. Unable to expose a gang of turncoats, he infiltrates them instead.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  20. Virginia City (1940)

    Union officer Kerry Bradford escapes from a Confederate prison and races to intercept $5 million in gold destined for Confederate coffers. A Confederate sympathizer and a Mexican bandit, each with their own stake in the loot, stand in his way.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both western

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  21. Challenge of the Range (1949)

    Charles Starrett once more dons the mask of mysterious do-gooder "The Durango Kid" in Columbia's Challenge of the Range. Wandering cowboy Steve Roper (Starrett) is hired by the Farmers Association to stem the activities of a group of gunmen who are driving ranchers off their land. The most likely suspect turns out to be innocent: the real culprits are within the Association itself. With the help of the chief suspect's son, Roper brings the crooks to justice.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  22. Blazing Across the Pecos (1948)

    This time the Durango Kid confronts an expert gambler.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  23. Prairie Roundup (1951)

    In Prairie Roundup, Fred F. Sears' direction brings a welcome jolt of vitality to Columbia's aging "Durango Kid" western series. Once again, Charles Starrett stars as Steve Carson, a lawman who is forced to assume the identity of masked do-gooder Durango. Framed for murder, Carson escapes to locate the real killer. It turns out that he was set up by cattle baron Buck Prescott, who eliminates competition by stealing livestock from other ranchers.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  24. Both Barrels Blazing (1945)

    The outlaw gangs are robbing the railroads and the Rangers cannot follow them when they move to New Mexico. So Kip decides to take a vacation to New Mexico and, as the Durango Kid, bring Cass and his gang back to justice. But Cass and his gang are killed at the bank in a double cross and Kip must still find the loot. For this, he enlists the help of Tex and Grubstake, although Grubstake does not know it.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  25. Snake River Desperadoes (1951)

    Starrett tries to prevent a range war between settlers and the Native Americans. Blue and his fellow scoundrels think they can profit from the bloodshed,but the Durango Kid along with a couple of precocious youngsters put an end to Blue's terrorism.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  26. Ridin' the Outlaw Trail (1951)

    Charles Starrett plays lawman Steve Forsythe in Ridin' the Outlaw Trail. Somewhere along the line, of course, Steve is obliged to don the mask of The Durango Kid, mysterious righter of wrongs. The "wrongs" in this instance include the theft of $20,000 in gold, and the "kidnapping" of a blacksmith's forge! Jim Bannon, who only a few months earlier had played the heroic Red Ryder, provides the villainy in this fast-paced "Durango Kid" entry

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  27. The Rough, Tough West (1952)

    Charles Starrett returns as the Durango Kid in Columbia's Rough, Tough, West. For most of the film, however, Starrett is known as "Steve Holden," a former Texas Ranger who comes to a wide-open mining town to visit an old friend (Jack -- later Jock -- Mahoney). Alas, said friend has turned bad, and is busy arranging a major land grab when Steve arrives on the scene. With deep regret, our hero dons his Durango disguise to thwart his ex-friend's criminal activities.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  28. Gunning for Vengeance (1946)

    Steve Landry arrives as the new Marshal of a town that is having trouble with outlaws. When an outlaw escapes over the State line out of his jurisdiction, the Durango Kid brings him in. The Durango Kid then continues to break up the outlaw raids. But Belle, the saloon owner who is in cahoots with the outlaws, notices the the boot prints of the Durango Kid match those of the new Marshal and a trap is sent to get Durango.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  29. Heading West (1946)

    Dakota Indian Agent Steve Reynolds receives a copy of the Bonanza City Nuggett from Jim Mallory and reads a story blaming the Durango Kid for recent gold mine raids.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

  30. Trail to Laredo (1948)

    Filmed at the Providencia Ranch (today's Forrest Lawn in Burbank, CA), this typical "Durango Kid" Western featured the Cass County Boys performing "Go West Young Lady" by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin, in addition to series regular Smiley Burnette singing his own "It's My Turn" and "The Yodeler. This time, the Durango Kid (Charles Starrett) is chasing down a gang of outlaws shipping stolen gold in crates marked "ring bolts," ably assisted by Smiley, a treasury agent working undercover as a house painter. Virginia Maxey supplies female interest and little Tommy Ivo, in one of his six appearances in the Durango Kid series, also gets in the way of the action.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both western

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Desert Vigilante?

The closest matches to Desert Vigilante are Barquero (1970), A Man Called Sledge (1970) and Dead for a Dollar (2022). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Desert Vigilante?

Start with Barquero (1970), the closest match to Desert Vigilante.

What is the highest-rated movie like Desert Vigilante?

Old Henry (2021), rated 7.4/10 by 817 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Desert Vigilante?

Dead for a Dollar (2022) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like Desert Vigilante?

Yes: Barquero (1970), A Man Called Sledge (1970) and Dead for a Dollar (2022).

How are movies similar to Desert Vigilante chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Desert Vigilante, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

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